In my recently completed fourth book titled “ Networking — Get Connected,” I worked with my publisher to write 140 tips about the art of business networking.
That’s it — just 140 simple yet thoughtful “aha”s that will push you to employ networking strategies to grow your company’s top line sales and bottom line profits.
Here are three of the “aha”s mentioned in the book.
1. Networking isn’t like reading a financial statement where the return on investment (ROI) is the overriding concern in the transaction. Networking involves “return on time” (ROT)
Are you using your time effectively?
As Keith Ferrazzi, CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, so profoundly states, “The currency of real networking is not greed, but generosity.”
People who effectively use networking in a positive way seem to always enjoy the greatest return.
Networking isn’t like reading a financial statement where the ROI is the overriding concern. I like to prefer to networking (proper networking where you develop real and authentic relationships) as “return on time.”
It takes time to develop these relationships. There is no immediate satisfaction, and these relationships may take weeks, months and even years to develop into powerful relationships that can help your business reach the next level of success.
2. Join a networking group with people not like you
I promise you that it works. Expand your relationships.
I always laugh when I meet a business person who says “I just went to a networking event and it was horrible. I met nobody, and it was a complete waste of my time.”
My immediate follow-up question is, “Did you go alone or with a friend?” The typical answer to this question is, “I went with a friend.”
My next question — and this is where I really stump them — “Did you speak with anybody except your friend at the event?” Of course not, and this is why you had a terrible networking experience.
Get out of your comfort zone – you will feel alive (yes, a bit nervous) and meet great people that will better you as a human being and in your professional career.
3. There are many similar products and services on the market, but there is only one you.
Sell yourself.
Wouldn’t you agree that most products and services have competition in the marketplace unless your concept is so proprietary and unique that it is difficult for any company to offer a similar solution?
But there is one thing that can never be copied. It’s you! You are different, you are unique, you can entice a buyer to purchase from you and not the competition.
I strongly believe that “a buyer would rather buy a good product from a great person than a great product from a good person.” Think about it in your daily life. The sales experience makes a difference. You may make a difference — and don’t ever forget that.
Should you want more context, examples or information on any specific “aha,” email me at jeff@trafficjamming.com and I will elaborate more on that specific “aha” in subsequent articles.